'Babar, Rizwan no more key players', says Hafeez

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has questioned the selection of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the national team, citing their lack of match-winning performances in recent years.

Speaking on a local YouTube channel, Hafeez said key players are those who regularly secure victories, and both Babar and Rizwan have struggled to deliver in the past 18–24 months.

“Calling them key players would be wrong and unfair. Key players are those who win matches for Pakistan,” Hafeez remarked, adding that players such as Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz have been more consistent performers in recent times.

He further suggested that Babar and Rizwan need to justify their places in the team. “They need to prove themselves as good players first; key players come later. Both were good in the past, but now they are not delivering results,” he said.

The former skipper also criticised fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, saying they too had failed to produce match-winning performances.

“If we want to improve Pakistan cricket, those in decision-making and those executing plans must address these issues promptly,” he concluded.